saltwater boating?

[cpowell]

Well, I am still fighting this old boat motor (Mercury) and the guy I got it from is now fixing it...so he says....
Anyway, I eventually want to take it to Galveston and put it in there. I only intend to mess around and fish close in because I have never been in salt water in a boat before and I'm a little nervous about it.
The boat is a Maxxum 19 foot fiberglass and the motor a Mercury 115 (OB304699).
So the question is...who has suggestions or advice on going fishing in the bay?
I understand that you should have a marine radio. Is my cell phone as good?
I understand that the motor has to be flushed when it is taken out of the water. Is using those muffs good enough or do I need to put it in fresh water to flush it good?
I have read about zinc anodes on the motor but don't know how or where to put them. I suppose I can get them at a boat shop. Right?
Anything else you more experienced guys would advise?

 

[Mark42]

Re: saltwater boating?

Zincs are a good idea, but if you just put it in, fish, bring it home and flush, I don't see where it is critical. I put in and out almost every day and only flush with fresh water on the muffs at the end of the week. But I do hose the boat and trailer down after each use.

If you are going to let the boat sit in the salt for days at a time, add a zinc.

Your cell phone will be useless if it gets wet, like if its in your pocket and you fall overboard, or jump out to shallow water and forget its there (done that). I keep mine in a double zip loc bag setup until I get a marine band radio.

Also, in general its nice to have a good tupperware container to put your wallet, keys, cellphone and other valuables in so if the boat does get swamped or sink, at least the tupperware will float free and you have a better chance of saving those items.

Have a life perserver on at all times. There are some big boats on the bay making some big wake, and storms come up quick. Small boats are at risk for being swamped.

Also, it is not a bad idea to have a bilge pump on board connected and operational.

Have a chart of the area you are boating in with you and know if the tide is coming or going.

If you are going out by yourself, be sure to tell someone where you plan to go. If you change plans, call home so they know. Helpfull info when you go missing...

Enjoy the water. Bay boating is great fun.

 

[stingraymax]

Re: saltwater boating?

Well I only go in saltwater with my boat and ALWAYS flush your engine with fresh water as soon as possible after you left the water, the muffs are good but you have to let it run for a while to be sure you get the salt out.
And just hose it down with fresh water to get all the salt of the outside too.

The zinc anodes are normaly already on your engine...

When I go to sea I just take my cell phone with me, and some flares. A marine radio is best if wonder off far from shore.

Hope this helps

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: saltwater boating?

youcan pick up a vhf marine radio on ebay very reasonable. i never leave home without it, i also have a hand held, in a baggie i keep in my pocket, along wiht my cell phone. having an auxillary kicker is another good idea if you are going far. also having a sea anchor (cloth bag) to use if you become disabled, it will keep the bow to the waves. take a safe boating course, and learn what your boat wiil do and won't do.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: saltwater boating?

cpowell, I find a cell phone much more useful than a marine radio, if the bay has coverage. You need to check that out. You need the standard coast guard safety stuff, flares, PFDs, life ring, horn etc. You need at least a manual bilge pump. A compass or GPS is necessary, and memorize or write down the compass course back to shore. Tell someone when you will be returning to the ramp. Flush the motor on the muffs when you return.

 

[ebsworj]

Re: saltwater boating?

cpowell, I find a cell phone much more useful than a marine radio, if the bay has coverage. You need to check that out. You need the standard coast guard safety stuff, flares, PFDs, life ring, horn etc. You need at least a manual bilge pump. A compass or GPS is necessary, and memorize or write down the compass course back to shore. Tell someone when you will be returning to the ramp. Flush the motor on the muffs when you return.

A marine VHF radio is of much more use than a cell phone in a emergency. With a radio you can contact those boats nearest to you that can respond to help you the quickest. With a cell phone you have to hope it works and then call a dispatcher who will try to tell a CG or Police boat which may or may not be near you where you are. Cell phones are notoriously unreliable off shore. I wouldn't rely on one expecially when handheld VHF's are about $90.

 

[Triton II]

Re: saltwater boating?

There's some very useful information at this site:

http://www.waterways.nsw.gov.au/offshore.html

I boat on Botany Bay and sometimes offshore (we call it "outside") in a Quintrex cuddy cabin with a 60hp Yam four-stroke and have flares, PFD1s for all on board, 27MHz radio and hand held VHF and mobile phone, orange "V"-sheet, fire extinguisher and ten litres of fresh water for each person. Mark42's advice about a tupperware container is very good - great tip Mark, I'll be taking you up on it!

Enjoy your bay boating and yes, my advice is to flush after every trip. 8)

 

[cpowell]

Re: saltwater boating?

Thanks for all the advice folks! I have printed the replies and keeping them for the time when I am able to take it out to the bay. A time when it is running better and I am more secure that it will continue to run...ha ha
There is some good points here and they are well taken. I have already started to use some of them in my local lake. The tupperware thing especially. I had been using a baggie. The point about the marine radio is well taken also and I intend to get one prior to going out to the bay. I saw an ad for "boat resuce" at our lake and it said they monitor the radio. I thought the radio was only for offshore use.
Anyway thanks for the time you took to answer my question.